Retrievable well apparatus



Sept 18, 1952 E. H. CLARK, J'R., ET A1. 3,054,452

RETRIEVABLE WELL APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1958 A 4 sheets-sheet 1INVENTORS 22A/57 .Al C2 ,4e/a, Je.

Sept. 18, 1962 E. H. CLARK, JR., ETAL RETRIEVABLE WELL APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1958 INVENTORS C2 42%, Je, 4M/05544Arraefvgys, Y

Sept' 18, 1962 E. H. CLARK, JR., ETAx. 3,054,452

RETRIEVABLE WELL APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mi M .4

l' INVENTORS EAeA/fsr M C14 Aeg, Je.

a/r/ G, CAM/055g.

Afro/@Marys Sept. 18, 1962 E. H. CLARK, JR., ET Ax. 3,054,452

RETRIEVABLE WELL APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORS Ewen/Es? fl, 2 ,4e/@d o/l/ 6., bfmvz Anna/16:

United States Patent O 3,054,452 RETREVABLE WELL APPARATUS Earnest H.Clark, lr., and Don G. Campbell, Downey, Calif., assignors to Baker Oilrlools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed`'luly 25, 1958, Ser. No. 751,606 21 Claims. (Cl. 166-134) The presentinvention relates to well bore equipment, and more particularly toapparatus to be lowered in and removed from a well bore on a tubularstring, such as tubing or drill pipe extending to the top of the wellbore.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved control apparatusfor determining the operation of subsurface well bore equipment adaptedto be lowered in a well bore on a tubular running-in string.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control or clutch devicefor controlling the operation of a subsurface well tool, such as a wellpacker or anchor, in a well casing disposed within a well bore, the welltool being run in the well bore on a tubular string, the control orclutch device being adapted to be placed in a condition permitting thetubular string to be rotated through a plurality of revolutions in thewell bore without dragging portions of the well tool around the wall ofthe well casing.

A further object cf the invention is to provide a control or clutchdevice in a subsurface well tool which is releasable and re-engageablein response to manipulation of a tubular string to which the well toolis connected, the clutch being adapted to be placed in a clutchingposition permanently to prevent subsequent inadvertent operation of thewell tool While it is in the well bore.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a formin which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specication. It will now bedescribed in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURES 1 and la together constitute a combined side elevational viewand longitudinal section through a well packer disposed in a well casingwith its parts in retracted position, FIG. la constituting a lowercontinuation of FIG. l;

FIGS. Z and 2a together constitute a longitudinal section through thewell packer apparatus illustrated in FIGS. l and la, with certain of theparts expanded into engagement with the wall of the well casing, FIG. 2aconstituting a lower continuation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of the control orclutch portion of the apparatus, with the clutch engaged;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FiG. 3 illustrating the clutch in disengagedposition;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 5--5 on FIG.2a;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 6-6 on FIG. 2a;

FiG. 7 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 7 7 on FlG. 2a;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 8-8 on FIG. la.

The apparatus A disclosed in the drawings is adapted to be anchored inpacked-off condition in a well casing B against movement in both anupward and a downward direction, to withstand pressure imposed on thetool from a position below its setting point in the well casing as well3,54A52 Patented Sept. i8, 1962 ICC as from a position above its settingpoint in the well casing. The apparatus is lowered in the well casing ona tubular string C, such as a string of tubing or drill pipe extendingto the top of the well bore. After having been set in the well bore andthe desired operation or operations performed therein, the tool isreadily released merely by taking an upward strain on the tubing stringC, and can be Withdrawn from the well casing, or may be moved within thewell casing to another location where it again can be anchored inpacked-od condition.

As specifically shown, the well tool A includes a tubular mandrel orbody 10, preferably having a straight through or uninterrupted passage11, the inside diameter of which is preferably no smaller than theinside diameter through the tubular string C. The upper end of themandrel or body may be constituted as a threaded pin 12 threadedlysecured to an upper` body member 13, which may actually constitute aco-upling forming the lower end of the tubular string C.

The lower portion of the tool is adapted to be anchored in thepacked-oit condition against downward movement in the well casing. Suchlower portion is a set-down type of well packer. It includes a lower setof circumferentially spaced slips 14 having external wickers or teeth 15facing in a downward direction to resist downward movement of the toolin the well casing when engaged therewith. The slips are received inlongitudinal slots 16 in a lower expander 17, the slips having innerexpander surfaces 13 tapering in a downward and inward direction andengaging companion tapered surfaces 19 in the lower expander that formthe bottom portions of the slots 16. The slips 14 are slidably splinedto the lower expander 17, as by having opposed tongues 20 extendingoutwardly from the sides of each slip which are received withinco-mpanion grooves 21 in the expander in the sides of each slot, thetongues and grooves being inclined in a downward and inward direction.Downward movement of the lower expander 17 with respect to the lowerslips 14 will expand the latter outwardly into engagement with the wellcasing B, whereas relative upward movement of the lower expander withrespect to the slips will cause the side grooves 21 to engage thetongues Ztl` and pull the slips inwardly to their initial retractedposition.

The lower slips 14,.- are movable jointly in longitudinal directions byslidably coupling them to a slip ring portion 22 of the drag body 23 ofa drag device 24 which encircles the body 1t) of the tool. The lowerportions of the slips are constituted as heads 25 slidable in radialslots 26 in the slip ring portion 22, the heads having outwardlydirected tongues 27 slidably mounted in companion side grooves 2S in theslip ring portion. The lower slip tongues 27 and slip ring grooves 28are preferably inclined slightly in a downward and outward direction tofacilitate movement of the slips toward and from engagement with thewall of the well casing.

Movement of the slips 14 in the well casing B is resisted by the dragdevice 24, which includes the aforementioned body 23, which hascircumferentially spaced longitudinal slots 3i) therein in whichradially movable drag blocks 31 are slidably received, these drag blocksbeing urged outwardly into frictional engagement with the wall of thewell casing by helical compression springs 32 disposed in sockets 33 ineach drag block and engaging the base of the drag block body grooves3l). Outward movement of the drag block under the influence of thesprings 32, as when the tool is out of the well casing, is limited byengagement of the upper and lower terminal portions 34 of each dragblock with an upper flange 35 depending from the slip ring portion 22,and by a stop ring 36 threadedly secured to the depending retractingsleeve portion 37 of the drag body 23, this retracting sleeve portionhaving the clutch housing 38 of a control unit 39 threadedly securedthereto, the clutch housing being provided with an inwardly directedlower terminal flange 40.

'Ihe slips 14 are expanded outwardly against the well casing wheneverthe body or mandrel of the tool is permitted to lower relative to thedrag body 23, such lowering movement being transferred through parts tobe described hereinbelow -to the lower expander 17. The loweringmovement of the body 10 relative to the drag body 23 and slips 14 isprevented by the control or clutch mechanism 39, of which the clutchhousing 38 forms a part.

Ihe clutch mechanism includes a plurality of clutch or ratchetteeth 41formed on the periphery of the body or mandrel 10 of the tool, whichface in a downward direc.- tion for coaction with companion upwardlyfacing clutch teeth 42 on a dog or clutch element 43 disposed in aradial slot 44 provided in a sleeve or ring 45 contained within theclutch housing 38. This sleeve or ring includes an upper friction brakedrum portion 46, frictionally engageable by a split inherentlycontractile brake band -47 that is prevented from turning with respectto the housing by a coupling screw 48 threaded into the band andreceived within an opening 49 in the housing. The friction brake bandl47 resists turning of the clutch sleeve or carrier 45 with respect tothe housing 38. However, the extent of friction which the brake bandoiers to such turning is substantially less than the frictional force ofengagement of the drag blocks 31 with the wall of the well casing.

The clutch dog 43 is urged inwardly, so that its teeth 42 mesh with thebody teeth 41, by a helical compression spring 50 bearing against thedog, with its outer end bearing against the iinger or spring seat 51integral with the clutch sleeve 45. When the dog 43 is engaged with thebody ratchet or clutch teeth 41, a space 52 exists between the outer endof the dog and the spring seat 51 to permit the dog to be shifted in alateral outward direction to disengage the ratchet or clutch teeth 41,42 from one another. Such disengagement occurs under the action of a cammember in the form of a key 53 disposed in a longitudinal keyway 54 inthe body 10. This key has a lower cam portion 55 adapted to shift theclutch dog 43 laterally outwardly to disengage it from the ratchet teeth41; `an intermediate stop or locating portion 56 that extends laterallyoutwardly to a greater extent than the camportion 55 and normallydisposed within an arcuate cavity or recess 57 in the clutch sleeve; andan upper threaded head portion 58 which threadedly meshes with internalthreads 59 in the retracting sleeve portion 37 of the drag body, thethreaded connection being a left hand one.

Initially, the upper end of the key 53 is disposed a substantialdistance from a downwardly facing shoulder 60 on the drag body 23 and isdisposed within an arcuate space 61 between the retracting sleeveportion 37 and the mandrel 10 of the tool. The distance between the dragbody shoulder 60 and the uppermost thread 62 on the retracted sleeveportion is substantially greater than the threaded length of the headportion 58 of the key to permit the key to thread upwardly within theretracting sleeve portion 37 and become completely unthreaded therefrom,which, as described hereinbelow, will shift the cam portion 55 of thekey above the clutch dog 43 to prevent its subsequent engagementtherewith.

The mandrel or body 10 is adapted to turn the -key 53 with itrelative tothe clutch sleeve 45 and the retracting sleeve portion 37 between aposition in which the intermediate key portion 56 engages one stopshoulder 63 at the end of the arcuate cavity 57, permitting the dog 43to be shifted by the spring 50 into engagement with the ratchet teeth 41and a second position in which the cam portion 55 of the key will engagethe tapered end 64 of the dog and cam it outwardly to disengage itsteeth 42 from the body teeth 41, the key coming to rest when itsintermediate portion 56 engages another stop shoulder 65 in the clutchsleeve 45 at the end of the arcuate recess or cavity 57, in which thecam portion 55 of the -key is disposed fully -across the dog 43 to holdthe latter out of clutching engagement with the body teeth 41.

As disclosed by way of example in the drawings, the body or mandrel 10must rotate the key 53 about 270 degrees from its position of engagementagainst one stop 63 to itsV position of engagement against the otherstop 65. Thus, if the key engages one ofthe stops 63, so that the clutchdog `43 can be coupled to the body 10 of the tool, -then rotationrof themandrel 10 within the drag device 24 and clutch housing sleeve 45 ofabout 270 degrees is required for the key to` engage and cam the dog outof its clutching relation to the -body of the tool, and to hold the dogin such disengaged position. The body 10 of the tool is rotated in aright hand direction to shift the dog 43 out of clutching engagementwith the body teeth 41, and in a left hand direction to enable the dogto reengage the body clutch teeth. Such relative movement can occursince the drag device 24 is resisting or preventing rotation of theclutch housing 38 and the brake band 47 is resisting or preventingrotation of the clutch sleeve 45 in which the clutch dog 43 is disposed.The rotation of the key 53 through the arcuate extent indicated abovesuch as 270 degrees will result in longitudinal threading of the keyalong the retracting sleeve portion 37, but the extent of longitudinalmovement of the key 53 when rotated less than a partial revolution isinsuicient to remove its cam portion 55 from a position in which it canengage the clutch dog 43 to cam it from clutching engagement with thebody 10 of the tool and be disposed fully across the clutch dog, to holdit from engagement with the body of the tool.

Despite the fact that the dog 43 must be cammed by the key 53 out ofclutching engagement with the body 10 of the tool, for the purpose oflowering the body relative to theV clutch members surrounding it, thebody can be shifted upwardly relative to the clutch members surroundingit merely by taking an upward pull thereon, in view of the one-wayratcheting action of the body teeth 41 upon the companion teeth 42 ofthe clutch dog 43.

With the clutch dog 43 engaged, downward movement of the body 10 of thetool will carry the drag device Z4 and the lower slips 14 downwardlywith it. Such down- Ward movement is also transferred to the lowerexpander 17 through a split or segmented retaining or pulling sleeve 68disposed within the slips. The upper end of the sleeve 68 is movablewithin an annular space 69 between the body or mandrel 10 and theexpander 17, the upper part of the sleeve having an outwardly directedange 7i) adapted to engage an upwardly -facing shoulder 71 on theexpander. The lower portion of the retaining sleeve 68 is disposedwithin the slip ring portion 22 of the apparatus, having an outwardlydirected flange 72 disposed within an internal groove 73 in such slipring portion. It is evident that downward movement of the drag body 23will exert a pull through the retaining sleeve 68 on the lower expander17, pulling the latter downwardly with it. However, relative downwardmovement of the expander 17 Within the slips 14 is permitted withoutmoving the retaining sleeve 68 downwardly, in view of the annular space69 between the expander and body existing yabove the retaining sleeve.

In the absence of the retaining sleeve 68, the slips 14, when disposedin their innermost position would also exert ya downward pull onthe'lower expander 17 through the inclined tongue and grooveinterconnection 2G, 21.

The upper portion of the lower expander 17 is threadedly secured to alower abutment ring 75, these two parts together constituting a lowerabutment adapted to eiect expansion of a packing structure 76intosealing engagement with the wall of the well casing B. This packingstructure includes an inner compression or thrust sleeve 77 threadedlysecured to the lower expander 17 and slidable along the body of thetool, the upper portion of this sleeve being adapted to shift ywithin anannular space 78 between the body of the tool and a connector sleeve 79,the lower end of which is threadedly secured to an upper abutment 80.The upper portion of the thrust Sleeve 77 is constituted as an outwardlydirected flange 81 adapted to engage an upwardly facing surface 82 ofthe upper abutment, such that downward movement of the thrust sleeve 77will cause the flange 81 to engage the upper abutment 80 and move theupper abutment and the connector sleeve 79 downwardly with it. When theconnector sleeve 79 and upper abutment y80 are moved downwardly towardthe lower abutment 75 and `along the thrust sleeve 77, the packingstructure between the upper and lower abutments 80, 75 and surroundingthe thrust sleeve 77 is foreshortened and compressed outwardly intosealing engagement with the wall of the well casing B, as well as withthe thrust -sleeve 77 itself. As specifically disclosed, this packingstructure includes a plurality of vannular packing elements 83 slidablewith respect to the thrust sleeve and separated by spacer rings 84 thatare also slidable on the thrust sleeve, the upper end of the upperpacking element 83 engages the upper abutment 80, the lower end of -thelower packing element 83 being engageable with the lower abutment 75.Shifting of the upper abutment 30 toward the lower abutment 75 willdecrease the distance therebetween, foreshortening the packing elementsS3 and electing their expansion outwardly into engagement with the wellcasing B. Upward movement of the upper abutment 80 relative to the lowerabutment 75 will enable the packing elements 83 to return inherently totheir initial retracted positions.

As assurance that uid will not leak around the packing portions of theapparatus, the upper abutment 80 has a seal ring 85 contained thereinadapted `to slidably seal against the periphery of the thrust sleeve 77.Similarly, the thrust sleeve 77 has a seal ring S6 contained thereinadapted to slidably seal along the periphery of the body or mandrel 10of the tool. Accordingly, fluid cannot leak between the thrust sleeve 77and body 10 and between the packing structure 7 6 and the thrust sleeve.

To effect expansion of the slips 14 and the packing structure 76 intoengagement with the well casing, the downward movement of the body 10 istransmitted to the connector sleeve 79 through a lost motion connection.The ybody has an elongate circular groove 87 in which a two-piece ring8S is contained, this ring being clamped between a ange 39 at the upperend of the connector sleeve and the lower portion 90 of a retainersleeve 91 threaded into the connector sleeve 79. The retainer sleeve 91extends upwardly into an annular space 92 between a coupling skirtportion 93 of a hydraulic cylinder 94 forming part of the upperanchoring mechanism of the well tool, the retainer sleeve terminating inan outwardly directed flange 95 adapted to engage the ange 96 of anannular stop member 97 threadedly secured to the lower end of thecoupling skirt 93 such that downward movement of the retainer sleeve 91will cause the ange 95 to engage the stop flange 96 and pull thecoupling skirt 93 and cylinder 94 downwardly with it.

When the lower control mechanism or clutch 39 is engaged, relativedownward movement between the body 10, the packing structure 76, lowerexpander 17 and lower slips 14 cannot occur, so that all of the partsare movable through the well casing as a unit. However, when the clutch39 is released, as by turning the tubular string C and the body 10connected thereto to the right, the cam portion 55 of the key is rotatedinto engagement with the dog 43, camming the latter radially outwardfrom engagement with the clutch teeth 41 and holding it in suchposition. The body 10 of the tool can now be lowered. In view of therelease of the dog element therefrom, such lowering action will notcarry the clutch members surrounding it, the drag device 24, slips 14,pulling sleeve 66, lower expander 17 and thrust sleeve 77 downwardlywith it, as well as the packing structure 76 surrounding the thrustsleeve. The drag device 24 resists downward movement of such parts.Accordingly, the body 10 move-s downwardly until the downwardly facingbody shoulder 99 defining the upper end of the elongate circular groove87 engages the split ring y88. Following such engagement, the connectorsleeve 79 and upper abutment S0 are shifted downwardly with the body 10,this downward movement being transferred through the packing structure76 to the lower abutment 75 and the lower expander 17, the thrust sleeve77 moving downwardly with the lower expander. Since the drag device 24-is resisting downward movement of the lower slips 14, the downwardshifting of the 4lower expander 17 within the lower slips will urge thelatter radially outward into anchoring engagement with the wall of thewell casing B.

Following engagement of the slips 14 with the wall of the well casing,the lower expander 17, lower abutment 75 and thrust sleeve 77 cannotmove downwardly to any further extent. Accordingly, a continuation ofthe downward movement of the packer body 10 will shift the upperabutment 80 toward the lower abutment 75, foreshortening the packingelements 83 and expanding them outwardly into sealing engagement withthe wall of the well casing B, as well as with the periphery of thethrust sleeve 77.

The apparatus is now anchored in packed-Cif condition against downwardmovement in the well casing, its upper portion will anchor the apparatusagainst upward movement in the well casing, such upward movementoccurring hydraulically and without the necessity for longitudinallymoving the body 10 of the tool, as in an upward direction.

The upper or anchoring portion of the apparatus includes a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced slips disposed around the body 10 of the tool,these slips being shiftable between retracted and expanded po-sitionsand of partaking of joint longitudinal movement. The upper portion 101of each slip is slidable in a slot 102 extending through the lowerportion of a slip retainer ring 103 slidable on the body or mandrel 10and keyed thereto by virtue of a key 104 threaded in the slip ring andreceived within a longitudinal keyway 105 of the body. 'I'he slips eachhave oppositely directed tongues 106 adapted to be received within`companion grooves 107 in the sides of the slots 102, the tongues andgrooves preferably being inclined to a small extent in an upward andoutward direction to facilitate anchoring of the slips 100 against thewell casing B and also their retraction therefrom. The lower portions ofthe slips have external wickers or teeth 10S facing in an upwarddirection to engage and embed themselves in the wall of the well casing.

The inner surfaces 109 of the slips are tapered in an upward and inwarddirection, coacting with companion tapered surfaces 110 on an upperexpander 111 slidably mounted on the body or mandrel 10 of the tool. Theslips 100 and expander 111 are slidably splined to one another, suchthat relative upward movement of the expander 111 within the slips willeffect expansion of the latter into anchoring engagement with the wellcasing, whereas relative downward movement of 4the expander with respectto the slips will elect positive retraction of the slips 100 from thewell casing. Such connection is afforded by means of oppositely directedtongues 112 on the inner portion of each slip slidable in companiongrooves 113 in the upper expander 111. It is evident -that the tonguesand grooves 112, 113 are inclined in an upward and inward direction tothe same extent as the coengaging expander and slip surfaces 109, 110.

The slip ring 103 is movable upwardly on the body 10 of the tool to theextent limited by its engagement with the lower end 115 of the bodycoupling 13. Its downward movement relative to the body is determined byits engagement with an upwardly facing -body shoulder 116. When the slipring 103 engages the body coupling 13 it is spaced above the bodyshoulder 116 so that the body or mandrel of the tool can partake of somelongitudinal movement in an upward direction relative to the slip ring103 and the upper slips 100 themselves.

The slip ring 103 and the slips 100, on the one hand, and the expander111, on the other hand, are normally urged and directed away from eachother, so as to tend to place and retain the slips 100 in a retractedposition, by longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced helicalcompression springs 118 located circumferentially between the slips 100.The upper ends of the springs 118 bear against the slip ring 103 andtheir lower ends against the upper end of the expander 111, the springsbeing disposed over longitudinal centering pins 119 secured to theexpander. The springs 118 tend to shift ythe upper slip retainer ring103 and the upper slips 1007in an upward direction relative to theexpander 111, such that the inclined tongue and groove connection 112,113 between the slips and expander tend to return the slips to and holdthem in a retracted position. However, when the expander 111 is shiftedupwardly relative to the slips 100, the latter are urged in a radialoutward direction to place their wickers 10S in anchoring engagementwith the wall of the well casing.

Depending from and integral with the upper expander 111 is a cylindersleeve portion 121 ofthe hydraulic cylinder 94 which is spaced from themandrel 10 ofthe tool to provide an annular cylinder space 122therebetween in which a hydraulically actuatable latch or couplingsleeve 123 is disposed. The expander 111 may be considered asconstituting an annular cylinder head. The latch or coupling sleeve 123includes an annular piston portion 124 slidable along the periphery ofthe body 10, and also along the lower inner wall 125 of the cylindersleeve 121. The piston portion is always disposed below a plurality offluid inlet ports 126 establishing communication between the centralpassage 11 through the body of the tool and the annular cylinder space122 between the body 10 and the cylinder above the piston 124. Leakageof iluid in an upward direction from the cylinder space 122 is preventedby a suitable side seal 127 carried by the cylinder head 111 andslidably sealing against .the periphery of the body 10. Leakage of uidin a downward direction from the annular cylinder space is prevented byan inner side seal ring 12S disposed in the piston 124 and slidablysealing against the periphery of the body 10 below its port 126. Leakageof uid between the periphery of the rpiston and the adjacent cylinderwall 125 is prevented by a suitable side seal arrangement 129 disposedin the piston and slidably sealing against the cylinder wall.

When iluid under pressure diierential enters the cylinder space 122 fromthe interior of the body through the ports 126, such pressure tends toshift the cylinder 94 and expander 111 in an upward direction, at iirstVshifting the slip retainer ring 103 into engagement with the lower end115` ofthe tubing string coupling 13, which functions as a stop, theexpander then moving upwardly along and behind the slips 100 to expandand urge the latter into anchoring engagement with the wall of the wellcasing. It is, however, desired to prevent such upward movement of theexpander and its outward expansion of the slips until the lower slips 14have been anchored against the well casing and .the packing structure 76sealed oC against the wall of the ,well casing. Upward movement of theupper expander 111 is prevented initially by theretainer sleeve 91, theflange 95 of which engages the inwardly directed flange 96 of the stopring 97 that is threaded to the lower end of the coupling skirt =portion93 of the hydraulic cylinder 121. It is also desired -for the body ormandrel 10 to be directly coupled to the upper. expander 111 after theslips- 100 have been expanded into anchoring engagement with the wall ofthe well casing, in order that hydraulic forces acting'on the body 10from below the apparatus willbe transmitted directly from the body tothe expander 111 and through the Yupper slips 100 to the wall of thewell casing B The direct transmission of upward thrustris accomplishedin the present instance by forming the upper portion of the latch orcoupling sleeve 123 as arms 135 extending upwardly from the piston 124and terminating in inwardly directed thrust heads 136 having inner lowercam surfaces 137 ,tapering in an upward and inward direction andcoacting with a companion tapered surface 138 on an expander and lockportion 139 integral with the body 10. After the cylinder 94 and upperexpander 111 have been shifted upwardly hydraulically for the purpose ofexpanding the slips into anchoring engagement with the well casing, thepressure in the vcylinder is acting on the piston 124 to urge thecoupling sleeve 123 downwardly, the coengaging thrust heads 136 andexpander portion 139 overcoming the elasticity and resiliency of thespring arms to shift them laterally outward to the extent determined byengagement of longitudinally extending teeth 140 on the arms withcompanion teeth 141 formed in the inner wall of the upper portion of thecylinder sleeve 121. When such teeth 140, 141 coengage, as a result ofoutward expansion of the springlike arms 135 and thrust head -136, theexpander surfaces 137, 138 are still engaged, and the body 10 landcylinder sleeve l121, as well as the upper expander 111 integral withthe latter, are directly coupled to one another. Upwardly -directedforces on the body 10' are transmitted through the body, expander -139and thrust heads 136' to the cylinder sleeve 121 and upper expander 111,the latter being wedged behind the slips 100 to transmit such forcethrough the latter to the well casing B, or corresponding well conduit.

When `the pressure differential within the cylinder 94 is relieved, thehydraulic force acting downwardlyl on the annularV piston 124 is alsorelieved, which per-mits the arms 135 and their thrust heads 136 toreturn inherently to their retracted positions.

The specific construction of the coupling sleeve 123 and the coaction ofits thrust heads 136 with the expander and lock portion v139, and withthe hydraulic cylinder 94, yform no part of the present invention. Suchdetails of construction and the mode of assembling the apparatus may befound in the application of Martin B. Conrad for Retrievable Double GripWell Packer, Serial No. 729,- 971, led April 2l, 1958. Itis sufficientto sta-te herein that once the coupling sleeve 123 is in properassembled position, it is prevented from turning relative to the body ofthe tool, to become inadvertently disassembled, by an orienting screw145 threaded into the body 10 and disposed between a pair of heads 136of the coupling sleeve.

It is to be noted that upward movement of the latch or coupling sleeve123 along the body 10 is limited by engagement of its heads 136 with anexternal Harige 146 on the body disposed immediately above the heads.Downward movement of the upper expander 111 along the body 10 and thelatch or coupling sleeve 123 is limited by engagement of its downwardlyfacing shoulder 147 with the upper end of the annular piston 124. Thefull retraction of the upper slips 100 against the body 10 of the toolwill also limit downward movement of the upper expander 111 and cylinder94 along the body, by virtue of the inclined tongue and grooveinterconnection 112, 113 between the slips 100 and the expander 111.

In the use of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, the parts aredisposed initially in the condition shown in FIGS. l and la, in whichthe lower' clutch device 39 is engaged, the cam or key 53 being disposedagainst the stop 63 at the end of the arcuate cavity 57 in the clutchsleeve 45, with the upper and lower slips 100, 14 and the packingstructure 76 in their retracted positions. The apparatus is lowered inthe well casing by the means of a tubular string C toward the desiredsetting point within the casing. During such lowering of the tubularstring, the drag device 24 is coupled by the clutch 39 to the body 10 ofthe tool, these parts moving downwardly together. Such downward movementis transferred directly to the lower expander 17 through the segmentalpulling sleeve 68 and directly from the lower expander through thethrust sleeve 77 to the upper abutment Sti, the pulling action beingtransmitted from the upper abutment through the connector sleeve 79 tothe retainer sleeve 91, the tlange g of which is then disposedimmediately above the stop sleeve flange 96. This pulling action istransmitted between these anges to the hydraulic cylinder 94, pullingthe latter and the expander 111 integral therewith in a downwarddirection, holding it in such position with the upper slips 16B* intheir fully retracted condition.

Since the body 16 is pulling directly on the upper expander 111 throughthe parts just described, any hydraulic pressure that might be developedwithin the body of the tool and the annular cylinder space 122 isprevented from shifting the cylinder 94 and upper expander 111 in anupward direction to expand the slips 10i) outwardly since the upperexpander is then, in effect, tied directly to the body of the tool.Accordingly, assurance is had that the upper slips 101i will be retainedin their fully retracted position, preventing their wickers or teeth 198from engaging or sliding upon the casing wall during the loweringr ofthe tool therein, which could dull them and possibly prevent theirbecoming anchored to the casing wall when desired.

When the location within the well casing is reached in which the tool isto be anchored in packed-oil? condition, the tubing string C is turnedto the right, which will rotate the body of the tool to the right about270 degrees, causing the key 53 to be rotated until its lower camportion 55 moves against the dog 43, shifting it out of clutchingengagement with the body teeth 41 and holding it in such outwardlyengaged position, as determined by engagement of the intermediateportion 56 of the key with the other stop shoulder 65 deiining the otherend of the clutch sleeve cavity 57. Such relative rotation between thebody 11i and the key 53, on the one hand, and the clutch dog 43, on theother hand, can occur since the drag device 24 is preventing rotation ofthe clutch housing 38 and the brake device 47 is preventing rotation ofthe clutch sleeve 45 containing the dog.

The apparatus can now be anchored in packed-off condition againstdownward movement in the well casing by lowering the tubing string C andmandrel 10 secured thereto. Such lowering action is permitted by virtueof the longitudinal keyway S4 which allows the body 10 to slidedownwardly along the key 53. During this down- Ward movement, the upperanchoring portion of the tool will shift downwardly with the body; theupper coupling 13 engaging the slip ring 163 and shifting it and theupper slips 100 downwardly, the downward force being transmitted throughthe springs 118 to the upper expander 111 and moving the latter and thecylinder 94 in a downward direction with respect to the retainer sleeve91 until the body shoulder 99 defining the upper end of the circulargroove 87 engages the split ring 88 which is secured between theretainer sleeve 91 and connector sleeve 79. At this time, it is to benoted that the inwardly directed flange 96 secured to the cylinder 94will have been spaced substantially below the flange 9S of the retainersleeve 91. The body 1t? of the tool and the whole upper anchoringportion is then lowered, the drag device 24 preventing downward movementof the slips 14. Such lowering movement is transferred through the splitring 8S and connector sleeve 79 to the upper abutment 8i), and throughthe packing structure 76 to the lower abutment 75 and lower expander 17,the latter being shifted downwardly within the lower slips 14 andexpanding them radially outward until their wickers 15 become embeddedin the well casing B, which precludes further downward movement of thelower expander and the lower abutment. A continuation ofthe downwardmovement o' the body 1t) will move the upper abutment 80 toward thelower abutment 75, expanding the packing structure 76 into sealingengagement with the wall of the well casing. The apparatus is nowanchored in packedot condition in the well casing against downwardmovement therewithin, the parts occupying the relative positionsillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2a.

The desired operation can now be commenced in the well bore. If iluidunder pressure is pumped through the apparatus it will be imposedthrough the ports 126 upon the liquid in the cylinder 94 urging thecylinder and upper expander 111 attached thereto upwardly in the tool,the upper slips 11%@ and upper slip ring 103 at irst being shiftedupwardly until the slip ring engages the lower end 115 of the coupling13, leaving a space between the upper body shoulder 116 and the lowershoulder of the upper slip ring. Continued upward movement of thexpander 111 under influence of the hydraulic pressure within thecylinder 94 will overcome the force of the springs 118, as the expandermoves upwardly along the body 10 and the slips 10i?, to shift the latteroutwardly into anchoring engagement with the Wall of the Well casing.

After the upper expander 111 has moved upwardly along the body 10 andslips 19d to the fullest extent, any increase in pressure within themandrel or body 10 and cylinder 94 will urge the piston 124 and thelatch or coupling sleeve 123 in its entirety in a downward direction,the thrust heads 136 moving down along the expander and lock portion139, and being cammed outwardly to bring the teeth 149 on the arms 135and heads 136 into full meshing engagement with the internal taperedteeth 141 in the cylinder sleeve 121, the parts then occupying theposition illustrated in FIG. 2.

Any tendency for the body 10 to move upwardly will then be transferreddirectly through its expander and lock portion 139 to the thrust heads136, and from the latter through the coengaging teeth 140, 141 to theexpander 11, the expander being urged upwardly behind the slips 101i towedge them more tirmly into anchoring engagement with the wall of thewell casing. To enable the teeth 10S to penetrate to a greater extentinto the wall of the well casing B, the body 10 and expander 111 willmove upwardly slightly relative to the slips 100, and such slight upwardmovement is permitted by the space that existed between the upper bodyshoulder 116 and the lower portion of the upper slip ring 103.

In the event it is desired to release the apparatus in the well casing,the internal pressure therewithin, as well as the pressure therebelow isrelieved. When the pressure diterential within the tool drops below aforce equivalent to that exerted by the helical springs 118, the lattercan shift the expander 111 and cylinder 94 downwardly relative to theslips 100 and the body 10 of the tool, the teeth 141 on the cylinderbearing against the teeth 140l on the arms and thrust heads 136, cammingthe latter inwardly so that the cylinder 94 can, in efect, ratchetdownwardly along the coupling sleeve 123 until the expander 111 hasreturned to its initial position, pulling the upper slips 100 inwardlyby virtue of the tongue and groove interconnections 112, 113.

An upward pull can now be taken on the tubular string C and the mandrel10 of the tool, the mandrel moving upwardly and its shoulder 116engaging the upper slip ring 103 to pu'll the latter upwardly, theflange 146 engaging the lower end of the expander 111 to move it and thecylinder upwardly, until the lower body shoulder 99a defining the lowerend of the circular groove S7 engages the split ring 8S. Such upwardmovement can occur since the body ratchet teeth 41 merely ratchet freelythrough the clutch dog 43 in an upward direction, even if the cam or key53 does not retain the clutch dog out of clutching engagement with thebody teeth. The upward movement is transferred from the split ring 88 tothe retaining sleeve 91 and connector sleeve 79, raising the upperabutment 80 rela- 1 tive to the lower abutment 75 to permit the packingstructure 76 to. return to its retracted position. The upper abutment 80then engages the flange 81 on the thrust sleeve 77 and pulls it and thelower expander 17 upwardly relative to the lower slips 14, the latterbeing shifted away from the well casing B and returned to theirretracted position, because of the inclined tongue and grooveinterconnections 20, 21. Upward movement of the lower expander 17relative to the drag device 24 can occur luntil the shoulder 71 on theexpander 17 engages the ange 70 of the pulling sleeve `68, whereupon thelatter is shifted upwardly to carry the drag device 24 and the entireclutch device or control unit 39 upwardly with it and with the body 10of the tool. The entire apparatus can then be elevated in the wellcasing, and removed entirely therefrom, if desired.

In the event the apparatus is to be lowered in the well casing from itsprior setting point, the tubing string C and body 10v of the tool arerotated to the left, to be assured that the cam key 53 has been removedfrom the clutch dog 43 and again placed in engagement with the stop 63at the end of the cavity 57. Accordingly, the clutch 39 will be engagedand downward movement of the body of the tool can occur, to pull all ofthe mechanism surrounding it, and which is in a retracted position, downthe casing without etecting setting of any of the parts, and alsopreventing inadvertent iluid or hydraulic expansion of the Iupper slips100 against the well casing. If the tool is again to be anchored in thewell casing, the body 10 of the tool is rotated to cause the key 53 toagain cam the clutch dog 43 from engagement with the body ratchet teeth41, allowing the body to lower relative to the drag device 24 and theclutch elements surrounding it, in order to again effect setting of thelower slips 14 and the packing structure 76 against the well casing.

In the event the apparatus has been released from the well casing andits withdrawal from the well casing is desired, assurance can be hadthat the clutch 39 cannot be released inadvertently, such that loweringof the tubing string C effects a re-setting of the apparatus against thewell casing. The tubular string C and the body 10 of the tool arerotated to the right a plurality of revolutions. Since the drag device24 is preventing rotation or the retracting sleeve portion 37, the key53 will be turned by the body within the retracting sleeve portion. Uponits engagement with the stop 65 it will carry the clutch sleeve 45around with it, this clutch sleeve slipping within the brake band 47which is frictionally engaging the sleeve drum 46 with a force that issubstantially less than the friction force of the drag blocks 31 againstthe wall of the well casing. Accordingly, the body 1G* of the tool, thekey 53, sleeve 45 and clutch dog 43 are rotated relative to the housing38 and the retracting sleeve portion 37. Since the threaded connectionbetween the upper portion 58 of the key and the retracting sleeveportion 37 is a left hand one, right hand rotation of the parts willeffect an upward feeding of the key 53 along the retracting sleeveportion 37 until the upper head portion 58 of the key is completelyunthreaded from the retracting sleeve portion. When this occurs thelower cam portion 55 of the key will have been elevated above the clutchdog 43, all-owing the spring 50 to shift the clutch dog into clutchingengagement with the teeth 41 of the body 10. The key cannot relowerrelative to the retracting sleeve portion 37, housing 38, clutch sleeve45 and clutch dog 43, since the lowermost thread of the key head S willengage the uppermost thread of the retracting sleeve portion 37 topreclude such movement from occurring. Accordingly, the clutch 39 willremain engaged at all times and cannot be disengaged, preventing thebody 1G from moving downwardly relative to the parts around it, so as toeffect their re-setting against the well casing.

The disengagement of the threaded head portion 58 of the key from thethreads of the retracting sleeve portion V37 enables yet another purposeto be achieved. In withdrawing the apparatus from the well casing,sections-of tubing C are disconnected at the top of the well bore. Theirdisconnection can be expedited by holding a section above the rotarytable at the top ofthe well bore stationary and rotating the table tothe right which will elect rotation of all the apparatus in the Ywellbore in a righthand direction. Such turning in a right-hand directionwill tend to drag the drag blocks 31 of the apparatus around the wellcasing B and might damage parts of the tool. As a result of unthreadingthe head portion 58 of the key from the retracting sleeve portion 37,the rotary eiort of the body 10 is not transmitted to the drag body 23and the parts connected to it. Instead, the only parts that might lturnwith the key 53 and the body 10 are the clutch dog 43 and the clutchsleeve 45. However, the clutch Sleeve slips within the friction brakeband 47 without damage to any of the parts. Accordingly, rotation of thetubing string C and body 10 of the tool can occur without rotating thedrag device 24 around the well casing, facilitating removal of theapparatus from the well casing.

The parts can be so proportioned that upward threading of the key 53along the retracting sleeve portion 37 can occur to shift the locatingportion 56 above the stop shoulders 63, 65, in addition to shifting thecam 55 above the dog 43. When this occurs, rotation of the body 10 andkey 53 will not rotate the carrier sleeve 45, the body teeth 41 merelyturning within the dog teeth 42 meshing therewith.

In the event that unthreading of the head portion 58 from the retractingsleeve portion 37 is not desired, such action can be prevented, eveninadvertently, as by securing the clutch sleeve 45 to the clutch housing38 by means of a screw threaded in the clu-tch sleeve and receivedwithin a bore 161 in the clutch housing. When the parts are assembledwith the head portion 5S threaded downwardly lto the appropriate extentwithin the retracting sleeve portion 37, the body 10 and key 53 can onlyturn to the extent limited by engagement of the intermediate portion 56of the key with the stop shoulders 63, 65 defining the ends of thearcuate recess 57.

T-he inventors claim:

1. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along thelength of said one member; a carrier movable with the other of saidmembers and rotatable relative thereto; means engaging said carrier andsaid other of said members for frictionally resisting rotation of saidcarrier relative to said other of said members; a clutch element movablelaterally on and carried by said carrier and having clutch teeth adaptedto mesh with said clutch teeth of said one member to couple said membersVfor longitudinal movement together; and cam means on said one memberoperable in response to relative movement between said members to engageand shift said clutch element laterally from clutching engagement withthe teeth on said one member to uncouple said members from` eac-l1other.

2. In a Well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along thelength of said one member; a carrier movable with the other of saidmembers and rotatable relative thereto; means engaging said carrier andsaid other of said members for frictionally resisting rotation of saidcarrier relative to said other of said members; a clutch element movablelaterally on and carried by said carrier and having clutch teeth adaptedto mesh with said clutch teeth of said one member to couple said members-for longitudinal movement together; cam means on said one memberoperable in response to relative movement between said members toengageand shift saidclutch element laterally from clutching engagement withthe teeth on said one member to uncouple said members from each other;and locating means for selectively positioning said cam means out ofengagement with said clutch element or in engagement With said clutchelement to hold said element from engagement with the teeth on said onemember.

3. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a -body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool Within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along thelength of said one member; a carrier movable with the other of saidmembers and rotatable relative thereto; means engaging said carrier andsaid other of said members for frictionally resisting rotation of saidcarrier relative to said other of said members; a clutch element movablelaterally on and carried by said carrier and having clutch teeth adaptedto mesh with said clutch teeth of said one member to couple said membersfor longitudinal movement together; cam means on said One memberoperable in response to relative movement between said members to engageand shift said clutch element laterally from clutching engagement withthe teeth on said one member to uncouple said members from each other;and stop means on said carrier engageable by means on said one memberfor selectively positioning said cam means out of engagement with saidclutch element or in engagement with said clutch element to hold saidelement from engagement with the teeth on said one member.

4. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along thelength of said one member; a carrier movable with the other of saidmembers and rotatable relative thereto; means engaging said carrier andsaid other of said members for frictionally resisting rotation of saidcarrier relative to said other of said members; a clutch element movablelaterally on and carried by said carrier and having clutch teeth adaptedto mesh with said clutch teeth of said one member to couple said membersfor longitudinal movement together; cam means on said one memberoperable in response to relative movement between said members to engageand shift said clutch element laterally from clutching engagement withthe teeth on said one member to uncouple said members from each other;and stop means on said carrier engageable by said cam means forselectively positioning said cam means out of engagement with saidclutch element or in engagement with said clutch element to hold saidelement from engagement with the teeth on said one member.

5. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; acarrier movable With one of said members and rotatable relative thereto;means engaging said carrier and said one of said members forfrictionally resisting rotation of said carrier relative to said onemember; a clutch element movable laterally on and carried by saidcarrier and adapted to engage the other of said members to couple saidmembers for longitudinal movement together; and cam means on said othermember operable in response to relative rotation between said members toengage and shift said clutch element from clutching engagement with saidone member.

6. In a Well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool Within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; acarrier movable with said clutch member and rotatable relative thereto;means engaging said carrier and clutch member for frictionally resistingrotation of said carrier relative to said clutch member; a clutchelement movable laterally on and carried by said carrier and adapted toengage said body member to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; and cam means on said body member operable in response torotation of said body member relative to said carrier to engage andshift said clutch element from clutching engagement with said bodymember.

7. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a lbody memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the Wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along the lengthof said body member; a carrier movable with said clutch member androtatable relative thereto; means engaging said carrier and said clutchmember for frictionally resisting rotation of said carrier relative tosaid clutch member; a clutch element movable laterally on and carried bysaid carrier and having clutch teeth adapted to mesh with said bodymember clutch teeth to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; and cam means on said body member operable in response torotation of said body member relative to said carrier to engage andshift said clutch element laterally from clutching engagement with theteeth on said body member to uncouple said members from each other.

8. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool Within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along the lengthof said body member; a carrier movable with said clutch member androtatable relative thereto; means engaging said carrier and said clutchmember for frictionally resisting rotation of said carrier relative tosaid clutch member; a clutch element movable laterally on and carried bysaid carrier and having clutch teeth adapted to mesh with said bodymember clutch teeth to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; cam means on said body member operable in response to rotationof said body member relative to said carrier to engage and shift saidclutch element laterally from clutching engagement with the teeth onsaid body member to uncouple said members from each other; and stopmeans on said carrier engageable by means on Said body member forselectively positioning said cam means out of engagement with saidclutch element or in engagement with said clutch element to hold saidelement from engagement with said body teeth.

9. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool Within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along the lengthof said body member; a carrier movable with said clutch member androtatable relative thereto; means engaging said carrier and said clutchmember for frictionally resisting rotation of said carrier relative tosaid clutch member; a clutch element movable laterally on and carried bysaid carrier and having clutch teeth adapted to mesh wtih said bodymember clutch teeth to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; cam means on said body member operable in response to rotationof said body member relative to said carrier to engage and shift saidclutch element laterally from clutching engagement with the teeth onsaid body member to uncouple said members from each other; and stopmeans on said carrier engageable by said cam means for selectivelypositioning said cam means out of engagement with said clutch element orin engagement with said clutch element to hold said element fromengagement with said body teeth.

10. 'In a well tool adapted fior operation in a Well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the Wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along the lengthof said body member; a carrier movable with said clutch member; meansengaging said carrier and said clutch member for frictionally resistingrotation of said carrier relative to said clutch member; a clutchelement movable laterally on and carried by said carrier and havingclutch teeth adapted to mesh with said body member clutch teeth tocouple said members for longitudinal movement together; said body memberhaving a longitudinal groove; and a key slidable relatively in saidgroove and responsive to relative rotation between said members toengage and shift said clutch element laterally from clutching engagementwith the teeth on said body member to uncouple said members from eachother.

l1. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along the lengthof said body member; a carrier movable with said clutch member; meansengaging said carrier and said clutch member for frictionally resistingrotation of said carrier relative to said clutch member; a clutchelement movable laterally on and carried by said carrier and havingclutch teeth adapted to mesh with said body member clutch teeth Itocouple said members for longitudinal movement together; said body memberhaving a longitudinal groove; a key slidable relatively in said grooveand responsive to relative rotation between said members to engage andshift said clutch element laterally from clutching engagement with theteeth on said body member to uncouple said members from each other; andstop means on said carrier engageable by said key for selectivelypositioning said key out of engagement with said clutch element or inengagement with said clutch element to hold said element from engagementwith said body member teeth.

12. ln a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; acarrier movable with said clutch member; brake means secured to saidclutch member and frictionally engaging said carrier to resist rotationof said carrier relative to said clutch member; a clutch element movablelaterally on and carried by said carrier and adapted to engage said bodymember to couple said members for longitudinal movement together; andcam means on said body member operable in response to rotation of saidbody member relative to said carrier to engage and shift said clutchelement from clutching engagement with said body member.

.113. In .a Well tool adapted for operation in a wellV bore: a bodymember connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within thewell bore; a clutch lmember :slidable longitudinally on said bodymember; a carrier movable with one of said members; means engaging saidcarrier and said one of said members for frictionally resisting rotationof said carrier relative to said one member; a clutch element movablelaterally on and carried by said carrier and adapted to engage the otherof said members to couple `said members for longitudinal movementtogether; cam means on said other member operable in response torelative rotation lbetween'said members to engage and shift said clutchelement from clutching engagement with said one member; and means forfeeding said cam means longitudinally lof said clutch element to aposition in which said cam means is prevented from engaging said clutchelement. I

'14. In a well tool adapted for operation in a Well bore: a -body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool Within the Wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; acarrier movable with one of said members; means engaging said carrierand said one of said members for fric-,tionally resisting rotation ofsaid'carrier relative to said one 16 member; a clutch element movablelaterally on and carried `by said carrier and adapted to engage theother of said members to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; cam means on said other member operable in response torelative rotation between said members to engage and shift said clutchelement from clutching engagement with said one member; and a threadedconnection between said cam means and said one member to feed said cammeans longitudinally of said clutch element, in response -to relativerotation between said cam means and one member, to a position preventingengagement of said cam means with said clutch element.

y'15. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; `a carrier member slidable longitudinally on said body member; aclutch element movable laterally on and carried by one of said membersand adapted to engage the other of said members to couple said membersfor longitudinal movement together; cam means on said other memberoperable in response to relative rotation between said members to engageand shift said clutch element from clutching engagement with said onemember; and means for feeding said cam means longitudinally of saidclutch element to a position in which said cam means is prevented fromengaging said clutch element.

16. In a Well tool adapted for operation in a Well Y bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the Wellbore; a carrier member slidable longitudinally on said body member; aclutch element movable laterally on and carried by one of said membersand adapted to engage the other-of said members to couple said membersfor longitudinal movement together; lcam means on said other memberoperable in response to relative rotation between said members to engageand shift `said clutch element from clutching engagement with `said onemember; and a threaded connection between said cam means and said onemember to feed said cam means longitudinally of'said clutch element, inresponse to relative rotation between said cam means and said onemember, to a position preventing engagement of said cam means with saidclutch element.

17. In a well tool adapted Ifor operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch memI ber yslidable longitudinally on said body member;said body member having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along thelength of said body member; a carrier movable with said clutch member;means engaging said carrier and said clutch member for frictionallyresisting rotation of said carrier relative to said clutch member; aclutch element movable laterally on and carried by said carrier andhaving clutch teeth adapted to mesh with said lbody member `clutch teethto couple said members for longitudinal movement together; cam means onsaid body member operable in response to rotation of said body memberrelative to said carrier to engage and shift said clutch elementlaterally from clutching engagement with the teeth on said body memberto uncouple said members from each other; stop means onv said carrierengageable by said cam means for selectively positioning said cam meansout of engagement withsaid clutch element or inengagement with saidclutch element to hold said element from engagement with `said bodyteeth; and a threaded connection between said cam means and said clutchmember to feed said cam means longitudinally of said clutch element, inresponse to relative rotation between said cam means and clutch member,to a position preventing engagement of said cam means with 4said clutchelement.

18. In a Well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the -tool within thewellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along the lengthof said body member; a carrier mov- -able with said clutch member; meansengaging said carrier land said clutch member for frictionally resistingrotation of said carrier relative to said clutch member; a clutchelement movable laterally on and carried by said carrier and havingclutch teeth adapted to mesh with said body member clutch teeth tocouple said members for longitudinal movement together; said body memberhaving a longitudinal groove; a key slidable relatively in said groove,said key having a cam portion adapted to engage 'and shift said clutchelement laterally from clutching engagement with the body member teethto uncouple said members from each other in response to rotation of saidbody member and key relative to said clutch member; `stop means on saidcarrier; said key having a stop portion engageable with said stop meansfor selectively positioning Said key out of engagement with said clutchelement or in engagement with said clutch element; and a threadedconnection between said key and said clutch member to feed said keylongitudinally of `said clutch element and said stop means, in responseto relative rotation between said key and clutch member, to a positionpreventing engagement of said cam portion of said key with said clutchelement and said stop portion of said key with said stop means on saidcarrier.

19. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to la running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on `said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along thelength of said one member; a carrier movable with the other of saidmembers and rotatable relative thereto; releasable means for resistingrotation of said carrier relative to said other of said members; aclutch element movable laterally on and carried by said carrier andhaving clutch teeth adapted to mesh with said clutch teeth of said onemember to couple said members for longitudinal movement together; andcam means on said one member operable in response to relative movementbetween said members to engage and shift said clutch element laterallyfrom clutching engagement with the teeth on said one member to uncouplesaid members from each other.

20. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; Ia clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along thelength of said one member; coupling means on the other of said membersrotatable with respect to said other of said members and including aclutch element having clutch teeth and movable laterally of said otherof said members to a position in which said clutch teeth of said element`are engaged with said clutch teeth of said one member to couple saidmembers for longitudinal movement together, said teeth on said clutchelement and one member being disengaged in response to relative movementbetween said members; means engaging said clutch element to move itlaterally towards said one member to engage said clutch teeth of saidelement and one member with each other; and releasable means connectingsaid coupling means to said other of said members and releasable inresponse to relative movement between said members to enable said bodymember to rotate through a plurality of revolutions without rotatingsaid clutch member.

21 In a well tool adapted for operation in -a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth disposed along the lengthof said body member; coupling means on said clutch member rotatable withrespect to said clutch member and including a clutch element havingclutch teeth and movable laterally of said clutch member to a positionin which said clutch teeth of said element are engaged with said bodymember teeth to couple said mem-bers for longitudinal movement together,said teeth on said clutch element and body member being disengaged inresponse to relative movement between said members; means engaging saidclutch element to move it laterally towards said body member to engagelsaid clutch teeth of said body member and clutch ele-l ment with eachother; and releasable means connecting said coupling means to saidclutch member `and releasable in response to rotation between saidmembers to enable ysaid body member to rotate through a plurality ofrevolutions without rotating said clutch member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,753,943 Morgan July 10, 1956 2,778,429 Masters Ian. 22, 1957 2,778,430Baker Jan. 22, 1957 2,802,534 Conrad Aug. 13, 1957 2,871,949 Baker Feb.3, 1959 2,988,149 Conrad .lune 13, 1961

